I would like to open by saying I’ve had a wonderful month since my thesis research proposal, during which I have not so much as looked at my thesis project. Now that my confession is out of the way, here’s what I have been up to.
Mid-February Jason and I welcomed a new dishwasher and oven into our home. My mom says you know you’re getting old when things like new appliances are exciting…which they were….so I must be old. This is one of my favorite pictures of the removal of the old appliances…as you can see, Kiki was very helpful in making sure Jason did things correctly.
Also exciting this month is that we’ve been planting a garden and digging in the flowerbeds. Other than having a sore back, I find digging in the flowerbeds very therapeutic. This is the first year I have aggressively attended to the flowerbeds. The grape hyacinth has become the bane of my existence. They had become so prolific they were choking out other plants, and not allowing me to plant new ones. So over the course of the past week, my gardening gloves, spade, and 5-gallon bucket have sifted through the dirt and removed thousands of the little bulby buggers. It’s been rewarding, although now I see grape hyacinth bulbs in my sleep. On the bright side, I have planted another peony, relocated some hen’n’chicks, planted some hostas, several begonias, columbine, lily of the valley, bleeding hearts, and violas. Most of them are still in seed or bulb form, but hopefully I’ll have pretty little plants in the next month. Most of them will also be perennial, so less work next year (I hope). I will include pictures in my next entry. Its hard to appreciate without knowing how much garbage I’ve cleaned out. Little plants will be more impressive. Jason has also assembled quite the grow-light set-up in the basement and has been babying some heirloom tomatoes. When the time comes we will probably have some extra plants if anyone would like to adopt one. So far the garden will have peas, carrots, parsnips, kohlrabi, lettuce, and tomatoes. We’d also like to try some kind of melon.
Jason has gotten out on his first caving trip of the year and is gearing up for his trip to Cambodia for school. He’ll be done in early May no matter what! Yay! I will be done as soon as I get my act together and stop gardening. Hmmm…gardening is way more fun that school.
Work has been super-busy. I’m helping a co-worker collect data she will use for her thesis project and we’ve been working some 10-hour Saturdays in order to get kids in when they don’t have school. Keeps me busy cleaning data during the week. I’m a bit behind right now, but it’s good job security.
I’m back on the wagon and going to the gym. Other than soreness which seems almost constant, it’s been great. I even have gained a workout buddy or two in my co-worker Rebecca, and my former training client Jane. Jane…if you’re reading this…you’re my new favorite person. Kidding aside, Jane is one of the most dedicated almost-50-year old workout clients I’ve ever had. She also has a wealth of information on gardening which has been very useful this time of year.
The birdfeeder from my brother has also caught on. I’ve had Juncos, house finches, goldfinches, a woodpecker or two, chickadees, and a pair of collared doves. Since I can’t tell which dove is the girl and which is a boy, I’ve decided they’re probably a gay couple. I’ve named the doves Bert and Ernie. Bert is quite obviously the one in the front of this picture. 🙂 I’m also feeding more sparrows and starlings than I’d like to admit.
As always, here’s my current favorite picture of Kiki. *smile*
I hope you are all doing very well. Thanks to Melissa for visiting me in Utah! Congrats to Russ and Chica on their engagement and Congrats to Scott and Andria on their second little one coming this fall!
Take Care,
S.~